THE CROWN were formed in 1998, and they are from Trollhättan, Sweden. Before 1998, they were active as CROWN OF THORNS starting from 1990. As THE CROWN, the Death Metal outfit were active until 2004 and then from 2009 onwards. In the meantime, they released their 12^th full-length album. “Crown Of Thorns” was mixed and mastered by Jonas Kjellgren (AMORPHIS; HYPOCRISY; SABATON) at Black Lounge Studios. The album has a length of about 54 minutes, and it was released via US Metal specialists Metal Blade Records. The album has a frantic start with the opening track “I Hunt With The Devil”. It is an opener at blistering pace, aggressive and tight guitar riffing, and grim melodies. The vocals are growls at around the medium end of the guttural range. For the chorus parts, there is background vocal support. The lead guitars are an important element throughout the track with several solos. “I Hunt With The Devil” is an excellent opening track of the album. “Churchburner” continues with the Death Metal assault. It is a mid-tempo track with flesh-ripping guitar riffs, plenty of blast-beats, and epic melodies during the bridges and chorus parts. The lead guitar solo is very contributing.

“Churchburner” is an early album highlight. “Martyrian” is a fast track for most of the time with a few mid-tempo episodes. The dark melodies are the focal point of the track, which is melodic Death Metal inspired. The melodies have some melancholic features. In so far, “Martyrian” sounds very different from the opening two tracks. “Gone To Hell” starts with a guitar/bass intro transitioning into a verse part at a measured tempo. The guitar riffing is thunderous, and the basslines are crunching. The melodies, especially during the chorus parts are catchy and almost anthemic. The break is relatively short but heavy and it does not contain a lead guitar solo. “Gone To Hell” is, no surprise, the official video release, and the YouTube link is provided below. “Howling At The Warfield” raises the pace, it is a fast song for most of the time with a few twists towards mid-tempo. The focal point of the track is again the melodeath inspired, dark and partially melancholic melodies. “The Night Is Now” starts with a short guitar-driven intro leading into a track around mid-tempo with some twists. The guitar riffing is powerful, while the melodies are chilling but catchy during the verse parts. “God-King” is a crushing track at a crazy pace. It is another melodic Death Metal track with epic and melancholic melodies. The vocals have deep-lying growling background support for the chorus line. “God-King” is another album highlight. “The Agitator” maintains the high pace and it comes again with flesh-ripping riffs and crunching basslines. Both drive the track forward for most of the time. Despite the insanity in tempo, there is a clear melodic framework being central in this pretty short song.

Both, “God-King” and “The Agitator” are arguably the fastest album tracks. “Where Nightmares Belong” starts as a hammering at frantic pace. The riffing is tight, and the drumming is relentless. Halfway through the track, the track transitions to mid-tempo and the epic melodies are at full swing. There is an unexpected end with a clean female vocal contribution.  “The Storm That Comes” starts with very powerful guitar riffing and strong basslines at mid-tempo. It is another track with the dark melodies being in the center of the track with the vocals following the melodies. The break is short starting with some grooves in the riffing leading into a vocal-driven part. The lead guitar solo comes near the end of the track, and this is the highlight of “The Storm That Comes”. “Eternally Infernal” starts with the introduction of the main melody accompanied with a short blast-beat thunderstorm. The song develops into a crushing track at blistering pace. However, despite all the pummeling, the melodies drive the track forward. The chorus lines are anthemic and sing-alongs. The melodies are again epic and melancholic. “Eternally Infernal” is another album highlight. “No Fuel For God” is another melodic Death track at mid-tempo. The riffing for the verse parts is thunderous, while the break and the chorus parts are driven by catchy but dark and epic melodies. The chorus parts are again sing-alongs. “Mind Collapse” finishes the album, and it come at crazy pace and tight and aggressive guitar riffing. It is another hammering track during the verse parts, while the chorus parts are more melodic. The break starts at mid-tempo but leading into a very contributing lead guitar solo at high pace, which is the end of the track. “Mind Collapse” is one of my favorites, and a great way to end the album.

THE CROWN release an excellent Death Metal album. “Crown Of Thorns” has a very strong melodic Death Metal component, with grim, and at times epic and melancholic melodies. The songs are a very good mixture of fast, crushing tracks and mid-tempo tracks with the focus always on delivering a comprehensive melodic framework. The album is well produced. “Crown Of Thorns” is one of the best melodic Death Metal albums I listened to recently and Death Metal fans will be delighted with the new album of THE CROWN.